A fungus photograph courtesy of “brettf” from North Vancouver, who asked for help identifying the fungus on the fungus and lichen identification forum (includes more photos), then submitted it for BPotD via the BPotD Submissions forum. Thanks Brett!

Calocera viscosa has a host of common names: yellow staghorn fungus, staghorn jelly fungus, jelly antler fungus, yellow antler fungus – personally, I'd avoid using a common name with yellow in it, since the colour ranges from yellow to orange.

The epithet viscosa equates with sticky or greasy (viscid), and in this case applies to the greasy surface of the fungus. Like many fungi, it is a saprotroph, obtaining its nutrients from decaying organic matter (in the case of Calocera viscosa, the decaying stumps of conifers).

Photography resource link: British Columbia lost a great nature photographer when David Blevins returned home to North Carolina after completing his doctorate in forest ecology at UBC. There are plenty of images of the flora and fauna of both British Columbia and the Carolinas on his site, and a few from elsewhere. Two of my favourites are Bald-cypress and Water Tupelo Forest and Sabal Palmetto Leaf. If you are a photographer, don't miss his page on techniques.